Skype chat with Dr. Vic

This blog comes a little late but one I have to write about. Twitter has extended my PLN in ways that I could have not imagined before.

Students science experiences in the early years makes a difference to their experience with the subject later in life. Apart from the classroom experience it is always useful to make connections with the community we live in.

It has been a challenge in the past to provide students with access to scientists but technology has allowed us to overcome this.  I have considered SkypeClassroom but time zones has not been helpful. A pool of NZ scientists readily available to connect with students will be useful. I may have just been a late twitter bloomer. Little did I realize that there were so many amazing professionals I could connect my students to and I needed to do was ask.

I met Dr Vic @VicMetcalf_NZ  in my early days of twitter exploration. It has been a strength to my teaching profession being connected to professionals such as Dr.Vic who are passionate about science education and who willingly contribute to twitter communities that NZ teachers are increasingly becoming connected with such as #edchatNZ and #scichatNZ.

Having completed the genetics topic I invited Dr. Vic to be a guest ‘in our class’. She graciously accepted the invite which had a ripple effect on my class’s enthusiasm. They were given the task of coming up with the questions, some of which were interesting:

1. What subjects did you take at school

2. What is the most endangered marine animal

3. Describe your inspirational sources

4. What is your area of spspecialization

5.What inspired you to become what you are today

6. What discoveries have you made?

7.What’s your favourite marine animal?

8. How would you inspire girls to continue studying science in later years?

On September 10th the class enthusiastically came into class. After sorting the technical glitches we were ready. 2 students volunteered to ask the questions while the remaining listened with the intention of asking questions later.

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Dr. Vic’s worked in the Antarctica and shared her amazing experience there. Students googled her favorite creature C hamatus and interesting little side discussions happened around my class at the end.

C hamatus

An interesting question was posed by one of my students on the existence of taniwha. Dr. Vic explained the myth and the place of science in all of this which brought students back to the idea of using evidence in science to justify their reasoning.

She challenged the students to work hard and make a difference in the world using their science knowledge in any career that they choose to take since science infiltrates in all curriculum areas.

This was an exceptional careers/science connection for my students and has given me as a teaching professional to strengthen my teaching programme.Thank you so much Dr.Vic for making this happen.